* Let’s coin a new phrase. You can’t have a “correct solve” unless you can knowingly go to within several steps of the treasure chest. Otherwise you have a “general solve.” What do you think? f (posted June 2nd, 2017)

I think Fenn is implying that the poem is able to get us within several steps of the tc

sev·er·al
ˈsev(ə)rəl/Submit
determiner & pronoun
determiner: several; pronoun: several
1.
more than two but not many.
"the author of several books"
synonyms: some, a number of, a few; More
adjective
adjective: several
1.
separate or respective.
"the two levels of government sort out their several responsibilities"
synonyms: respective, individual, own, particular, specific; More

* Let’s coin a new phrase. You can’t have a “correct solve” unless you can knowingly go to within several steps of the treasure chest. Otherwise you have a “general solve.” What do you think? f (posted June 2nd, 2017)

* Let’s coin a new phrase. You can’t have a “correct solve” unless you can knowingly go to within several steps of the treasure chest. Otherwise you have a “general solve.” What do you think? f (posted June 2nd, 2017)

He is hinting at the fact that it isn't technically buried and perhaps telling those that have emailed him about locations they searched with metal detectors to stop bringing metal detectors. This may also intimate that anyone that has emailed him about taking metal detectors has an incorrect solution.

You're probably right, and he also used the word "coin," in which a detector can be used to find metal underground.

* Let’s coin a new phrase. You can’t have a “correct solve” unless you can knowingly go to within several steps of the treasure chest. Otherwise you have a “general solve.” What do you think? f (posted June 2nd, 2017)

He is hinting at the fact that it isn't technically buried and perhaps telling those that have emailed him about locations they searched with metal detectors to stop bringing metal detectors. This may also intimate that anyone that has emailed him about taking metal detectors has an incorrect solution.

Let me ask you a logic question.
If he has to make an issue of "buried, not buried " Which is more likely?
Does it fit the definition of buried?
Does it fit the definition of NOT buried?